Let's Talk Recovery

[mkrupar]

Since we're coming down to the end here, lets talk about our experience woth recovery. Whether it be from a vaginal delivery or c-section S+TM let's discuss.

What are some things you're not looking forward to?

What ended up not being as bad as you feared?

Any tips or tricks you found helpful?

FTM what questions do you have?

[thatgirlrachel]

What are some things you're not looking forward to?

Just the general soreness and limited activity. It's tough for me to sit on my feet and do nothing because I'm always on the go. It was hard for me to make myself take it easy last time and I'm sure this time will be even harder with a toddler around.

What ended up not being as bad as you feared?

A 4th degree tear. Before birth, I was terrified of tearing just because I have a generally small frame and...ouch. If the midwife hadn't told me I tore, I would have had no idea (thanks epidural). Doctor spent quite a while between my legs after deliver sewing me up and I never felt a thing. Once the epi wore off, I mostly just had the average soreness that I assume comes with any vaginal birth. And everything healed nicely, if I do say so myself. Only the slightest sign of a scar and nothing seems to have had a lasting negative impact.

Any tips or tricks you found helpful?

Seltzer bath (is that what it's called?)! It was a dream for my healing. Also Dermoblast, Tucks Pads, and in my case, the ice packs they gave me to put in my underwear (yes, this is a thing). If I don't get any this time, I'll probably make my own padsicles.

[mkrupar]

What are some things you're not looking forward to?

The uterine cramps. They sucked the first time and I've heard they're worse the second time around.

What ended up not being as bad as you feared?

I didn't really know what to expect since I wasnt sure what the recovery was for a c-section.

Any tips or tricks you found helpful?

Ask for help. No matter how you deliver, you are going through a major medical event, and it's ok to get help from those around you.

[mkrupar]

Dupe

[parma986]

What are some things you're not looking forward to?
The general discomfort, engorgement when milk comes in. I did, however, have limited sensation of my bowel/bladder for about a week post-op so that was weird. Not looking forward to that happening again.

What ended up not being as bad as you feared?
Honestly, my c-section recovery was relatively easy. I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't have a ton of cramping, very minimal bleeding. In general, not as bad as the stories you hear

Any tips or tricks you found helpful?
SLEEP when the baby sleeps, or at least when the baby is calm and another adult can manage them. I ran myself into exhaustion with my 1st and don't want to make that mistake again, especially with DD1 to take care of.

[arimaythea]

What are some things you're not looking forward to?
The nausea of late labor - I hate being nauseated. Also, unlike thatgirlrachel, my tear experience wasn't great and I'm nervous for dealing with that again.

I had a third degree tear. Several weeks after birth I was still getting bright red blood and pain from the location of the tear. I ended up having a condition that I can't remember the name of where tissue was growing out of where my tear was. My OB had to have 2 sessions of applying silver nitrate to remove it and it was not fun. Also caused pain during sex in positions that would irritate where my tear was. I'm OK now though, but don't want to go through that all again if possible.

What ended up not being as bad as you feared?
The first postpartum poo ended up not being as horrific as some people hyped it up to be, at least for me. My overall birth experience was quite positive, especially since I got the epidural at 7-8cm dialated, so I didn't really deal with any pain during the later parts of birth.

Any tips or tricks you found helpful?
The combination I found most comfortable for me once I was at home was Depends + a couple Tucks pads + Dermaplast. I honestly don't remember much of the postpartum healing process I think because my mind was so focused on fixing our breastfeeding issues. So I figure it overall wasn't so bad, but that could just be that type of pregnancy/birth amnesia that makes us want to have more children lol.

[cougarette]

What are some things you're not looking forward to?
The really bad pain on the back of my hip for about 3 weeks.
Engorgement.
I didn't have any swelling during pregnancy, but my feet were swollen for about a week after.

What ended up not being as bad as you feared?
Pooping was normal for me. I had a very small tear, so even that wasn't too bad.

Any tips or tricks you found helpful?
I made some padsicles and they felt really nice.

[caitost21]

I'm not looking forward to the first few weeks after recovery. It was hard juggling a newborn and my recovery at the same time, I imagine it will be even more difficult with a toddler too. What stands out most is how weak my back and core felt after delivery. Even bending over to change a diaper was difficult. Not looking forward to just the care and maintenance down there lol it felt like such a process to use peri bottle, witch hazel and diaper/pad.

I was not prepared for last time and am really not looking forward to this time are the night sweats. Holy hormones! For the first 2-3 weeks, I would wake up drenched in sweat and would have hot/cold flashes. A few times I had to take a shower in the MOTN it was so bad. Definitely laying down towels and have a spare change of clothes nearby for that first month.

Umm my biggest tip is to use diapers those first few weeks. Those helped immensely and the mesh underwear and pads were a joke. Also, take colace! I plan to start that asap, so painful otherwise

[thatgirlrachel]

I'm probably in the minority when I say I actually liked the mesh underwear they gave me in the hospital. I wore the heck out of them bc it was stretchy and I didn't have to worry about bloodying up my own stuff. I did, however, prepare by buying a pack of cheap Hanes full coverage underwear that I could wear after birth so I didn't care if they got ruined. Somehow, I managed to not ruin them and I'll use them again this time.

[gamergirl]

What are some things you're not looking forward to?
That thing the nurses do where they press on your uterus, multiple times, to help it shrink after delivery. So painful.
That's about it for me.

What ended up not being as bad as you feared?
PP poop and vaginal soreness. I only had one tiny stitch though, so that may have helped.

Any tips or tricks you found helpful?
I can't think of anything not already mentioned, at the moment anyway.

[bubblefan]

Obviously this is all TMI. 😂 Not looking forward to the entire downstairs recovering. It was bad. I had an epiosiotomy that took forever to heal and I had bad hems from pushing for so long. Everything hurt. Also, nipple-pain during the early weeks.

Honestly, losing the weight wasn't as bad as I had feared. It didn't melt off, but I got it off within 7 months with exercising and eating mostly okay.

[mommabakes]

What are some things you're not looking forward to? The Post delivery uterus "massages". I didn't mind them at all with my first, but with Dd, they hurt SO bad!

What ended up not being as bad as you feared? The bleeding. It honestly was like a light period for me, after the first couple days.

Any tips or tricks you found helpful? Definitely fill the Peri bottle with warm water.

[chitownsully]

What are some things you're not looking forward to?
I had a lot of clotting - I think because of the shape of my ute? Apparently it's backwards? I don't know but I think it makes me more prone to placenta previa and postpartum clotting (not scientific - just my assumption). The clots were huge, it was disturbing.

What ended up not being as bad as you feared?
As long as you take the Colace, the first poop isn't so bad.

Any tips or tricks you found helpful?
Have a squirt bottle handy in the bathroom filled with warm water because you will not want to use toilet paper!

[cythe]

I can't decide if I want to read all of these so I can be prepared or if I want to avoid this thread like the plague.

[mommabakes]

Sept 6, 2017 17:13:46 GMT -6 cythe said:

I can't decide if I want to read all of these so I can be prepared or if I want to avoid this thread like the plague.

Don't freak yourself out too much!!! My recoveries really weren't bad at all.